Murphysboro is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,970 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the Metro Lakeland area. The mayor of Murphysboro is Will Stephens. The government consists of the mayor and 10 city aldermen.In 2017, the total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 will have its point of longest duration near Murphysboro, at a point about 8 kilometers to the southwest in Giant City State Park.